Terry Pratchett: Hogfather—A Christmas Novel of Discworld [Flashback]

Dec 14

“We are meddling with dark magic at the dark time of the year…”

**Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novel Hogfather is chock-full of supernatural figureheads—including Death, the Tooth Fairy, and Jack Frost. And—oh, yeah—the Discworld version of Santa Claus.**

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Hogswatchnight, when the Hogfather himself dons his red suit and climbs in his sleigh pulled by—of course—eight hogs, to shower gifts across Discworld. But when the fat man goes missing, someone has to sit in. It’s up to Death to take up the reigns—otherwise the sun won’t shine tomorrow…or ever again.

Who would want to harm Discworld’s most beloved icon? Very few things are held sacred in this twisted, corrupt, heartless—and oddly familiar—universe, but the Hogfather is one of them.

Yet here it is, Hogswatchnight, that most joyous and acquisitive of times, and the jolly, old, red-suited gift-giver has vanished without a trace. And there’s something shady going on involving an uncommonly psychotic member of the Assassins' Guild and certain representatives of Ankh-Morpork’s rather extensive criminal element.

Suddenly Discworld’s entire myth system is unraveling at an alarming rate. Drastic measures must be taken, which is why Death himself is taking up the reins of the fat man’s vacated sleigh...which, in turn, has Death’s level-headed granddaughter, Susan, racing to unravel the nasty, humbuggian mess before the holiday season goes straight to hell and takes everyone along with it.

Hogfather
Discworld series
Terry Pratchett
HarperCollins
Categories: Humorous Fantasy, Action & Adventure Fantasy

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Interview

Pratchett told the members of SFBC about Hogfather. “It’s impossible to summarize it very succinctly, but it has something to do with the magic of childhood. And the interesting thing about the magic of childhood, it’s a phrase that only adults would ever dream of using. Children know the world is a far more dangerous place than adults can possibly believe.”

He said that Hogfather features a number of supernatural figures. “Among others,” Pratchett said, “Death, the Tooth Fairy, and various other similar occult personalities, including Jack Frost, the Cheerfulness Fairy—who I rather enjoyed writing—and all kinds of other mystical creatures. And, of course, the Hogfather himself, who is the Discworld equivalent of Father Christmas.”

The author said that it’s also a book about winter, and the mythology of winter. “As I’m sure you know, a lot of the things that we celebrate around the dark of the year, and a lot of the decorations, and even some of the songs, had their roots in a tradition that goes all the way back beyond Jesus Christ and possibly even back beyond the building of Stonehenge. We are meddling with dark magic at the dark time of the year.”

We also found a video interview with the late author. Scroll down to watch…

Terry Pratchett on Discworld - interview from Hogfather (2006)

Reviews of Hogfather

Despite its fantasy setting, this has easily become one of my favorite Christmas stories. For a novel set in a fantasy world, it’s surprising how great of a Christmas novel Pratchett has been able to tell in Hogfather. In a true show of form, by poking fun at the subject matter he has made something more profound than works that are more straightforward. (Muse With Me)
So, why do I read this every year? Well, first of all it’s familiar and its funny. I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas and it wears me the heck out. This book makes me laugh so hard, in so many ways, and every year I find a new favorite line. (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books)
The master of humorous fantasy delivers one of his strongest, most conventional books yet. Pratchett has now moved beyond the limits of humorous fantasy, and should be recognized as one of the more significant contemporary English-language satirists. (Publishers Weekly)

About the author

Sir Terry Pratchett OBE (1948-2015) was a humorist, satirist, and author of fantasy novels, especially comical works. He’s best known for his Discworld series of 41 novels. He also wrote a number of other works, including Good Omens.

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Chris Well

Chris Well been a writer pretty much his entire life. (Well, since his childhood.) Over the years, he has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio, and books. He now is the chief of the website Monster Complex, celebrating monster stories in lit and pop culture. He also writes horror comedy fiction that embraces Universal Monsters, 1960s sitcoms, 1980s action movies, and the X-Files.

https://chriswell.substack.com/